Role and industry
Commercial Lender / Relationship Manager Recruiters for Private credit lenders
Financial Headhunters: How to independently originate and execute debt deals that maximize yield within your fund searches.
This is what we do all day: recruit accounting, finance, banking and insurance professionals.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
Need someone now? Call 954-280-9139.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
- Controller
- CFO
- VP Finance
- FP&A Director
- Accounting Manager
- Director of Accounting
- Assistant Controller
- Tax Director
- Treasury Manager
- Internal Audit Director
- Senior Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Head of Financial Reporting
- Commercial Lender
- Chief Credit Officer
- Business Systems Finance Lead
- No upfront fee
- Pay only if you hire
- Accounting, finance, banking and insurance
- We reach people who aren’t on job boards
- Replacement terms on standard searches
01
What does this hire really come down to?
Can the candidate independently source and close debt deals in a private credit environment? Who approves the adjustment? How does the lender manage the credit risk profile of your portfolio versus non-bank deal flow?
Expect them to conduct the heavy lifting on financial modeling and credit memoranda. We look for candidates who know exactly how to structure a deal that maximizes yield while keeping losses within your fund searches. This requires a sharp eye for legal documentation and covenant design.
We ask them specific questions: How do you handle a covenant breach in your current portfolio? What specific red flags do you ignore in a management team but flag in an equity sponsor? When did you last walk away from a deal after the term sheet was signed and why?
Define the specific responsibilities during the initial intake. Do not assume the candidate handles all deal stages. Decide if you need an originator for new opportunities or an analyst for underwriting complex structures. If you need both, distinguish the time spent on each. Request their deal log. Ask for the size, sector, and attachment point of the last three deals closed. Probe how they adjusted interest rates, debt ratios, or documentation based on market changes. Present a scenario where a borrower's business deteriorates. Ask how they would modify the debt instrument to protect the principal without triggering a default. Their response shows if they understand the trade-offs between covenant enforcement and flexibility. Ask them to explain risk metrics they track for unitranche or mezzanine products versus senior debt. If they cannot describe the reporting interface between the borrower and your fund, they will struggle with administrative tasks. Ask them to describe the most difficult negotiation they had with an equity sponsor. Did they win on documentation or yield? How did they keep the relationship while taking a firm stance? If they cannot explain their committee defense process, they lack the needed depth. Listen for mention of legal counsel or loan documentation templates they prefer for various risk levels. This reveals whether they have deep experience or just read memos written by others. We look for candidates who own the deal.
02
What do we check before you see anyone?
Non-bank or private credit lending experience. (2) History of writing and defending credit memos before an investment committee. (3) Proficiency in waterfall calculations and capital call mechanics. (4) Managing borrower relationships post-close. (5) Understanding the difference between bank risk and private credit risk. (6) Verification of experience with debt instruments like unitranche, mezzanine, or junior capital.
We start every search by mapping the exact credit committee process the candidate currently navigates. We verify if they author their own credit memos or if they synthesize work from junior analysts. We investigate whether they have historically prioritized deal velocity over document protection by asking them to recount a specific instance where a lender-favorable covenant was stripped during the heat of closing. We probe their ability to assess the trade-off between yield enhancement and collateral coverage in distressed scenarios. A critical check involves testing their grasp of the specific debt capital structure. We ask them to explain how they analyze a borrower's fixed-charge coverage ratio when dealing with recurring revenue models versus traditional ebitda-based underwriting. We determine if they possess the requisite judgment to push back on equity sponsor demands or if they consistently defer to the path of least resistance to keep deal flow moving.
03
Where do we find them?
We source candidates from established private credit funds, business development companies, and alternative asset managers. We also look at specialized debt groups within investment firms. People move when they hit a ceiling on carry participation, when their fund shifts its strategy toward a sector they do not know, or when they want more control over the credit decision process.
We avoid candidates who only know standardized commercial banking products, as they lack the flexibility needed for private credit structures.
04
Which hiring mistakes should you watch for?
- 01Hiring a traditional bank lender who cannot adapt to the faster, less rigid pace of private credit.
- 02Ignoring a candidate's lack of experience with complex covenant negotiation and legal documentation.
- 03Focusing only on their existing relationship book rather than their actual ability to evaluate and underwrite complex deal structures.
05
The search in three steps
- 01First, we screen for direct experience in private credit debt instruments and credit committee defense history.
- 02Second, we conduct a technical review to confirm their understanding of fund-specific reporting and risk metrics.
- 03Third, we provide you with shortlisted candidates who meet your criteria for interview.
06
Which related hiring decisions are worth comparing?
How your Commercial Lender / Relationship Manager search runs
From the opening to the start
Tell us who you need
Tell us about the job, your team and the experience you need.
We find and contact people
We research suitable people and speak with them about the job and their interest.
You meet the strongest candidates
We introduce candidates with relevant experience and explain why each could fit.
We help you complete the hire
We help with interview feedback, the offer and arrangements for the start.
Questions people ask
When is a fee due for finding someone who executes debt deals and manages credit risk?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
How do you distinguish a bank lender from a private credit lender?
Bank lenders rely on regulatory guidelines and standardized retail products. Private credit lenders focus on custom structures, higher risk tolerances, and specific fund yield searches.
Does this role include fund management responsibilities?
This role focuses on lending, deal sourcing, and portfolio maintenance. While they work with fund data, they do not manage the fund entity itself.
Can you provide a candidate who can also manage capital calls?
We prioritize candidates who understand the interface between debt assets and fund-level reporting. We check their experience with fund admin oversight during the screening process.
When will we meet candidates?
Timing depends on the requirements, location and pay. We discuss the likely obstacles after learning about the job and keep you informed as the search progresses.
How do you handle counteroffers?
We discuss why candidates want to move and what might make them stay. If a counteroffer comes up, we help both sides work through the decision without making promises for either party.
What is your guarantee?
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
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No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
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